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| Staff Writer |
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Doug Watson, the UAE Champion Trainer, is on a roll at Meydan as he claimed another big win on Friday with his horse Isolate, ridden by American jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The Godolphin Mile champion won the Horse Welfare Authority Cup in a stunning fashion and left his stable companion Golden Goal (Pat Dobbs) behind by three and a half lengths. Isolate's victory marked the second consecutive Meydan feature win for Watson since Colour Up's win in the Listed Garhoud Sprint two weeks ago.
Watson and RRR Racing owners tasted success in the aforementioned Group Two event on the Dubai World Cup undercard, thanks to Isolate and Gaffalione's last joint venture.
In contrast to their five-and-a-half length success in March, Gaffalione steered Isolate three and a half lengths clear of Golden Goal, the 2022 Gr.2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 winner and stable companion, on a slower pace on Friday night.
The victory brought a sense of relief to the Watson camp, as it was only their third win of the campaign. Isolate's success also marked a second-straight Meydan feature win following Colour Up's win in the Listed Garhoud Sprint a fortnight ago.
Isolate, the 5YO full son of Mark Valeski, broke well and led the race after the early battle for the lead ended as the field left the chute and joined the course proper. Gaffalione had to shake up Isolate just before straightening up, but once he went, it was all too easy for the rest of the field to battle for the minor spots. Golden Goal managed to secure second place, chased home by Celtic Prince, two-and-a-quarter lengths back in arrears under Bernardo Pinheiro.
The Emaar-sponsored card's highlight was the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya, the first major turf race of the season at Meydan. Earlier in the day, the 1000m Listed Ertijaal Dubai Dash was run on Meydan's turf track, which was unveiled on the same day. It was won by Czech trainer Miroslav Nieslanik's first Dubai runner, Ponntos, ridden by Antonio Fresu, who made all and won by three-fourths of a length from Ben Coen's Bilhayl, ridden by Michael Costa. Ahmad bin Harmash's Thunder of Niagara, ridden by Connor Beasley, was three lengths behind the pair.
In contrast, the Gr.2 Al Rashidiya saw a calculated ride from William Buick result in the first success of the season for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby, and himself, with Measured Time winning for the trio. After sitting off the pace, the Frankel colt had a sweltering run along the rail and claimed a sensational three-and-a-quarter length victory ahead of Erzindjan, trained by Bin Harmash and ridden by Beasley.
Ottoman Fleet, another Appleby trainee, was a further three-fourths in arrears in third under James Doyle, who earlier claimed the Listed Business Bay Challenge aboard Kevin Philippart de Foy's Vafortino, a winner on the card, by edging out Danyah, the Al Quoz Sprint champion trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri and ridden by Jim Crowley, by a head on the line.
Dhahabi, trained by Appleby and ridden by Buick, claimed a commanding two-and-a-quarter length victory in the 2410m Dubai Racing Club Classic handicap (85-113), where Simon and Ed Crisford's Scottish Anthem, ridden by Sam Hitchcott, finished second.
In The Entisar, Julio Olascoaga's Atletico El Culano won first-to-last with a quick gobbling up of ground in the straight under Jose da Silva, winning by a head from Military Law, trained by Al Mheiri and ridden by C. Demuro.
Bhupat Seemar and Richard Mullen also tasted success on the night after Morning won the card-ending At The Top handicap (75-95). The pair nicked the race in the final strides from Al Tariq, ridden by Dobbs, to deny Watson a double.
The evening started with the 1600m PA Gr.1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1, which was won dominantly by Fawzi Nass' RB Rich Lyke Me, ridden by Adrie de Vries. The pair had previously won the PA Gr.2 Madjani Stakes a fortnight ago. RB Rich Lyke Me had to work hard for his length-and-a-half success ahead of Ahmed Al Balushi's Amur Al Rasbi, ridden by Falaah. Another Nass trainee, Hiab Al Zaman, ridden by Lucan van Rensburg, was half a length behind Falaah.
Nass and De Vries enjoyed a double on the evening after Manama Gold won The Storm Coaster, a 1400m Conditions run for juvenile fillies, with a terrific turn of foot that carried her to a two-and-a-half length victory ahead of Frost At Dawn, trained by William Knight and ridden by Buick. Nass was again responsible for the third, Lightning Paradise, ridden by Van Rensburg, who was a further seven-and-a-half in arrears.